Toronto's mayor moves to ban American border officials from the city's World Cup soccer games

A federal officer stood guard as protesters gathered while ICE operated in a Minneapolis residential neighborhood on January 13, 2026, following a fatal shooting incident involving an immigration officer and a woman protester.

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US Homeland Security Chief Kristi Noem defended the officer's actions in multiple TV interviews, discussing the death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, which has sparked nationwide protests against President Donald Trump's immigration policies.

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Hundreds of additional federal agents were deployed to Minneapolis, despite demands from the city's Democratic leaders to leave, as announced by the US Homeland Security Chief on January 11.

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Toronto's mayor, Olivia Chow, introduced a motion on Friday to ban US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from the city during the upcoming World Cup, citing their recent conduct as a source of "fear and disorder".

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The motion, entitled "No ICE in Toronto", argues that the presence of ICE agents would create fear during a time when the city aims to welcome the world and ensure everyone's safety.

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According to the ICE website, the force has a permanent presence in five Canadian cities: Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver, and Ottawa, with Toronto and Vancouver being the only two hosting 2026 World Cup matches.

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The World Cup tournament will be held across three countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with Toronto hosting six matches and anticipating an elevated number of foreign visitors.

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Organizers expect some global football fans may be reluctant to travel to the United States due to President Donald Trump's hardline immigration tactics, as stated in Mayor Chow's motion.

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The motion also references protests in Italy ahead of the Milan Winter Olympics over the presence of ICE agents as part of the US delegation's security detail.

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Additionally, the motion cites the recent large-scale operation against undocumented migrants in Minnesota, during which federal immigration agents fatally shot two US citizen protesters.

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Mayor Chow's motion asserts that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has demonstrated through their actions in Minnesota and across the US that they bring "fear and disorder, not safety".